Sorry! One last "calm before the storm" chapter. I swear, I don't mean to be a troll about this kind of thing.

Chapter 32: What Would You Do if the World Could End?

-Damus' POV-

Resting under a tree in a meadow, I was reading the book that Levi had loaned me. As far as I knew, he had gone back to his house to read his own book. And this book was actually very insightful.

"Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories."(AN: Not actually written by a Shiftry.)

I reflected on that for a while. I suppose that's how Meowth fights. He knows both himself and his enemy because he was a villain once. Thinking harder, I went back over my own battles.

I'm no slouch, but what is it that separates our fighting-styles? We're both heavily analytical in our approach, but Meowth seems to pull plans out of thin air.

"Hello, Sunshine."

Internally groaning, I looked up and saw Vlad lounging on one of the branches of the tree, lying on his stomach with an arm hanging over the side.

I glared up, "I come here to be alone."

Vlad stuck his tongue out and then said, "That's fine and good, but Mel said she's off visiting some super-special calming place to try some recreational meditation and she politely asked me to not follow her, so I'm bored. Besides, this will be the perfect time to try fulfilling my potential last day task."

I raised an eyebrow, "Excuse me?"

He smiled, "I'm going to make you laugh!"

Looking at him as if he just declared that he was going to empty the ocean with his cupped hands, I said, "You can't be serious."

"I didn't bring this for nothing." He held up a torn piece of paper with some writing on it.

"Please tell me you didn't tear that out of the Adventure Log."

"Pft! I wasn't going to pay for something when I can get it for free. The well is the town's, but the log is ours. Plus, can you name any other place to get a writing utensil?" I shook my head at his lack of regard for public property.

He cleared his throat and stood on the branch, but before he could begin, I held up a paw. "Stop. You should know your own limits. Nothing you have to say could possibly make me-" I stopped, having just realized the piece that I was missing.

Knowing your limits… That's it. Each time I failed was when I tried to do too much. Meowth is very aware of his limits, and he knows when there are others who can do the job better, so he does his best to make it so that each of them has the best chance possible. He employs everything that he has to his advantage and makes sure to direct us to use ours. And since he puts that in mind first, it's easy for him to make back-up plans. So… it boils down to a difference in character. Meowth's had a hard life, so it's taught him to see everything he can use, and when to use it, and when to fall back. So my fault all along was too much pride, believing that I was somehow superior to everybody else, just because I was made the acting leader most often.

A purple hand waved in front of me, "Hellooooo? Anybody home? I thought it was Rio's job to space out when he thinks something."

I swat away the hand, "I just thought of something that I haven't before. I need to take some time to pick apart this information. Some time alone."

As I left, Vlad floated after me, "Awww, come on, at least hear out the joke! I swear that you'll find it funny! It was actually something that I thought of after hearing all of this story involving Darkrai."

My interest piqued, but I refused to show it, "Fine. Read it. I won't laugh, but if you're that set on it, at least I'll get some peace and quiet."

As we left, Vlad checked the paper, as if memorizing before putting it away (inside his chest). "Okay, you know how, supposedly, Rio is from the future where the planet is paralyzed, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, I did some thinking and I realized that Darkrai orchestrated his own inevitable demise! Isn't that hilarious?"

I stopped and raised an eyebrow, genuinely interested, "Care to explain?"

Vlad grinned, "Gladly. See, Darkrai wanted to destroy time first, so he set Temporal Tower on the course of destruction. But through that, he created the future where Rio would be born. He and Grovyle traveled back in time to change history. And, through that, he met Meowth. Together, they stopped the planet's paralysis, foiling Darkrai's plan. But, you see, if he hadn't destroyed time in the first place, then Rio wouldn't have been born to travel back in time, and Meowth and he wouldn't have teamed up and become the powerful force that they are today. The ultimate irony is that Darkrai never stood a chance to begin with! The only way to avoid defeat would've been to do nothing, but then he still would've lost. It was a lose/lose for him the entire time! HA HA HA HA HA!"

I stared at Vlad wide-eyed as he spelt everything out, then despite myself, I let out a single, short laugh, "Ha, that is actually pretty funny."

Vlad stood up straight in the air, gleefully, "There! Mission accomplished. I'm off to take a nap."

"The world is threatened with eternal sleep," I deadpanned, "and you're going to take a nap."

He shrugged, "No point losing sleep over eternal sleep." He looked at me expectantly, but I didn't budge an inch in my stoicism.

He frowned, "You're no fun. Don't even laugh at the good jokes. Good jokes have punch lines." Vlad floated off in a huff.

-Mel's POV-

I finally found it. I doubt he would be in a hurry to come here, so I didn't tell him or even ask him where it was.

Getting up to higher ground, I looked around until I finally saw the spot. I wasn't lying when I said that I was going to a special spot, but it wasn't for meditation. It was pretty easy to spot from a distance. The grass has grown back, but there were three distinct landmarks. I walked up to them and looked down. Briefly, I wondered how Vlad got these stones here, but I decided that it didn't matter. Two of them had faded inscriptions carved in roughly, but the other was nameless.

I guess that he wanted to leave behind his old life. Can't imagine how weird it is to bury your own body.

I looked and saw moderate pile of charcoal-black, splintery pieces of wood. Turning my attention back to the gravestones, I read the inscriptions to myself. "Isabelle, my dear, sweet angel, May you find peace" "Jason, Please forgive me for my failure, Rest in peace, my son"

I looked at what I assumed to be Vlad's grave, just a plain stone without anything on it. I started reaching out to it, but then decided against it. Who knows whether Vlad can feel if his grave is disturbed or not? For one thing, I can't tell how he'd react to me being here.

Regardless, I reached into a bag that I brought and pulled out some items to leave at the graves. Vlad said that he didn't want any sympathy, but no grave should go without offerings. I set down Apples and some flowers for all three of them, and Isabelle and Jason, a few sealed cups of Red Gummi Juice. Earlier today, I wasn't quite sure what to leave at Vlad's grave, because how do you leave something for the dead body of your friend that you saw earlier this morning? Ultimately, I decided on leaving a wooden bowl of seawater with the Apples and flowers.

Paying my respects, I left to actually find a place for some meditation. I could use some mind-clearing after this.

-Rose's POV-

Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh- I am so nervous! Why did I have to put myself on the spot like this?!

Hogan looked at me patiently waiting for an answer to a subject that I brought up. Why did I bring it up?! The conversation was going so well! We were just sitting at the Sharpedo Bluff and talking about our time on the team and then I had to open my big mouth and ask if there was anybody he liked. I know Meowth said that we should try to do what we've been meaning to, but I didn't even find out anything! When I asked, he raised an eyebrow and said, "Why? Do you?" Of course he would ask that! I brought the subject up out of nowhere!

I took a few breaths. Okay. Just answer. Find out. You've been preparing for this… But now it's here! Don't teleport! Don'tteleportdon'tteleportdon'ttele-

"Rose?"

I was brought out of my mental panic by Hogan's voice. He waved a hand, "You don't have to say if you don't want to."

Shaking my head frantically I said, "N-no! I, uh- I want to. Just… give me a moment." I took a deep breath and said, "I… l-like…" Come on! It's one syllable! Say it!

Hogan sighed, "You like me?"

I reeled back, "Wh-what?! H-how- I mean, um…"

"Cathy told me; three days ago, when Rio and Meowth went into Azurill's nightmare. She came to me while I was at the dojo. And after she told me, she hit me in the face with an Ice Shard attack for 'being so clueless.'"

I slapped my forehead. This is what I get for talking about my feelings with the most gossipy Pokémon on our whole team.

Hogan continued, looking over the sea, "I'm not gonna lie, I've never really thought about romance or settling down, since I'm in my fighting prime. But I've had some time to think things over… I'm not saying that I feel the same, because with the way Cathy said it, it sounded like you love me."

I buried my face in my hands. Maybe I should just teleport under a rock…

"But I'm willing to explore the possibility. So… what I'm trying to say is… Uh…" I heard him mutter, "Sheesh, I'm not that good with these kinds of things…" I looked up when I heard him clear his throat, "What I'm saying is that I'd like to try seeing where we go from here, if you really feel that way."

I smiled, shaking with joy, "Thank you, Hogan. But I-I don't know what we could do. To be honest, I didn't really expect to get this far."

He put his hand on my shoulder, "Ah, don't worry about it, we'll have plenty more days to plan! You don't actually think Rio and Meowth could lose, do you? They're both as tough as Aggrons!"

I laughed, "True, true." Edging slightly closer, I said, "For now, I guess I wouldn't mind staying here a little longer."

As we sat together, I sighed happily. When I next see Cathy, I'll slap her for telling him my secret. And then I'll hug her and thank her for telling him my secret.

-Levi's POV-

Strange as it was, I couldn't concentrate on the story. Real shame; it was one of my favorites. I just couldn't get my mind off of Rio and Meowth's mission. The fate of the world is, quite literally, on their shoulders.

I twirled my feather bookmark in my claws, thinking things over before putting it in the book and closing it. If I couldn't immerse myself, then what's the point?

Leaving the book on the podium, I flew to stand on the rim of the window, looking outside at the partly cloudy sky. I suppose that this is what Siltram, Hogan, Savage, Dash and Damus felt when Rio left to save the world with only Grovyle's help at first, and then Meowth's. Despite all of our training, it ultimately comes down to the efforts of the chosen hero, duo or trio. All we can do is wait and hope for everything to work out.

I shook my head, "Curse our powerlessness… If only there were a way for us to lend some help…"

To think I finally evolved, but I'm unable to do anything but sit here and read my books while trying to wait out the storm.

"Waiting for… Rio and Meowth to do everything."

"Well they'll never get it done with you like that," a voice said from down below. "I bet Rio can feel your moping all the way at Dark Crater."

I looked down and saw Dash sitting and looking up at me. He smiled, "It may be up to them alone, but you're acting like they've already lost! Don't be such a downer!"

I raised an eyebrow, "What are you doing here?"

"I was going for a jog. Back at Amp Plains, all I had to do for fun was run around all the time. Been a while since I just ran around with no destination. Anyway, I was passing by and I heard you talking to yourself."

Sighing, I said, "I just wish there was something we could do to help…"

"Help by believing in them." I raised an eyebrow and Dash continued, "We all wish that we could help them out; make sure that they save the world and return home safely. Heck, everybody in town wanted to help. But if they have to do it alone, then the best thing we can do is have faith that they'll win. That's all there is to it. So don't worry; it's in the hands of the best of the best!"

Thinking it over, I smiled and said, "Thank you, Dash."

He grinned and stood up, "Any time! Now, I think I'll go for another lap around the peninsula." He ran off, leaving a trail of kicked-up dust in his wake.

I watched for a brief moment before going back in. That Pokémon is hopped up on Oran Berries… But he gives some good advice sometimes.

-Rio's POV-

"You got a girlfriend?!"

I stopped talking at Meowth's exclamation. I raised an eyebrow, "After everything I've told you about what James has been up to, that is what you fixate on?"

"Nah, nah, nah, you don't know James like I do. James, you got a girlfriend?!"

I felt a wave of embarrassment next to me and James remained silent for a while before talking to me again. I listened and said, "He says yes, but that he already knows you're going to ask for details and that it's none of your business."

"Drat!"

Cresselia spoke up, "I believe that's enough. We have arrived." We landed in front of a cave set in almost pitch-black stone.

Meowth immediately got serious, "So dis is da place?"

Cresselia turned to face us, "Here we face Darkrai. There is no telling what he has in store for us. We must proceed with the utmost care!"

We both nodded and walked into the cave. Like all other mystery dungeons, the entrance behind us disappeared. No turning back now. Only forward.

I put this as an intermediary because I wanted the final confrontation to be a chapter all its own. See you next time! I swear, I will try writing as fast as I can.

-AJ203